Rehoboth officer to hold strongman competition to help police charities

Next month members of the Rehoboth Police Department and the community will test their might in an amateur strongman competition in honor of officers Sean Collier and Richard Donohue.Rehoboth police Officer Ryan Brulé will host the competition, not just to expose the community to the world of heavy lifting,...

By Dan Harnett

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Dan Harnett

Posted Aug. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 12, 2013 at 12:03 PM

By Dan Harnett

Posted Aug. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 12, 2013 at 12:03 PM

REHOBOTH

» Social News

Next month members of the Rehoboth Police Department and the community will test their might in an amateur strongman competition in honor of officers Sean Collier and Richard Donohue.

Rehoboth police Officer Ryan Brulé will host the competition, not just to expose the community to the world of heavy lifting, but to also raise money for his co-workers who were injured and killed in the Boston Marathon bombing.

“Last year I helped organize the Rhode Island State Strongman Competition,” Brulé said. “But this year I wanted to do a fundraiser. I wanted to do something for officers Collier and Donohue.”

Investigators say MIT police Officer Sean Collier was sitting in his cruiser in Cambridge on April 18, when he was gunned down by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Police say that the 27-year-old was ambushed.

“It’s such a shame for Sean’s life to be taken away,” said Brulé. “Many people join the police force for their own reasons, but Sean became an officer to help people. He would do anything for anybody.”

Brulé attended the MBTA Police Academy in Quincy with both Collier and Donohue. Donohue, a Transit police officer, was shot the leg. multiple veins and his femoral artery were severed. Proceeds from the Collier Country Strongman competition will also aid him in his recovery.

“This event is for my friends, the Rehoboth Police Department and for the surrounding communities of Massachusetts,” said Brulé. “The competition will be a good way for us to gather together and work hard.”

The competition begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 14. The opening ceremonies will commence at 10 a.m. Weigh-ins will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. the day of the competition to determine weight class.

“This event will be also be a good fundraiser for the Cops for Kids with Cancer Organization,” said Brulé. “I’m excited to introduce people to the world of strongman competition.”

The 25-year-old Brulé won’t be taking part in the competition, but he has competed in five strongman events over the past two years. He has been a Rehoboth police officer for three years.

The entrance fee for the competition is $50. All proceeds from the event will go to support the Sean Collier Memorial Fund, the Dic Donohue Relief Fund, and Cops for Kids with Cancer. Checks can be made out to Collier Country Strongman and sent to Ryan Brulé at the Rehoboth FOP, P.O. Box 632, Rehoboth, MA 02769.